Question NW3510 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
17 November 2023 - NW3510
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What are the details of any functional interdepartmental partnerships that his department entered into since he assumed office to ensure the fulfilment of its objectives and mandate?
Reply:
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has a functional interdepartmental partnerships with various Departments to ensure the fulfilment of its objects and mandate.
The DCS has an existing partnership with Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), the partnership commenced on 10 March 2021 and it will end on 09 March 2024. The aim of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) is to guide and manage the relationship between DCS and DPWI in order achieve the following:
- DCS to manufacture and supply furniture to DPWI as per their requirements.
- DCS to repair broken office and VIPs residential furniture.
In addition, the Department also has a functional interdepartmental partnership with the Agriculture Research Council (ARC). The partnership commenced on 21 September 2022, and it will end on 20 September 2025. The aim of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) is to guide and manage the relationship between the ARC and DCS to achieve the following:
- Promote a coherent and effective system on provision of agriculture related services, promote sharing of information, i.e. policies, procedures and technical information;
- Assist and support each other in respect of the agreed services between the parties and agreement; and
- Inform each other of and consult each other on matters of common interest.
Furthermore, the Implementation Protocol Agreement for the Provision of Educational Support and Services for Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability was entered into with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for formal Education matters (Educator development, assistance with Learner Teacher Support Material, manufacture, maintenance, refurbishment and supply furniture of schools; establishment of school gardens; access to Grade 12 end of year results datasets of all registered schools.
The DCS has entered into the Implementation Protocol Agreement with the D Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) on educator development on administration of examinations policy and curriculum matters on ABET.
DCS also signed interdepartmental partnership agreements with the following Stakeholders in the fulfilment of the rehabilitation objectives and mandate:
- DHET to support the provisioning of TVET College programmes and AET programmes;
- The National Skills Fund (NSF) for the provisioning of accredited skills training programmes and learnerships to offenders;
- SASSETA, Services SETA and MERSETA for the provisioning of skills training, accreditation of offender workplaces and Training Centres
Moreover, DCS also is a beneficiary of the Global Fund Grant (GFG) through the National Department of Health for COVID-19 Response Mechanism 2021 (C19RM 2.0) which commenced on 01 July 2021 – 31 December 2023. The funds are managed by National Department of Health and are specifically earmarked for compensation of the appointed Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Coordinators and Surveillance Officers.
The Department of Correctional Services was awarded Global Funds through the South African National AIDS Council for capacity building of officials on Human Rights matters specifically relating to People Living with HIV, TB including Key and Vulnerable Populations (including inmates). Funding is awarded for the period 01 April 2022 – 31 March 2025. The funds are managed by the South African National AIDS Council and no funds have been provided to the Department of Correctional Services directly.
END.